Koné agrees terms with Arsenal; Roma want €50m to sell

Arsenal have stepped up their push for Manu Koné and, according to Sportmediaset and La Gazzetta dello Sport, have already agreed personal terms with the France midfielder of Roma. The Giallorossi, Gazzetta writes, are asking 50 million to let him go and balance the books, while in the last few hours the player is said to have opened the door to the Premier League.

The breakthrough came on personal terms. Sportmediaset described an Arsenal «pressing for Koné» who «have an agreement with the player», while La Gazzetta dello Sport confirmed the Gunners are «accelerating» and have reached «an agreement with the player». A deal between the clubs still has to be built.

The sticking point is the fee. According to Gazzetta, Roma «want 50 million», a figure that would let the Giallorossi «solve the capital-gains problem»: selling the Frenchman fits the club's need to book a substantial fee quickly.

The talks come at a delicate moment for Roma. Il Riformista wrote that the club has «two weeks to sell» and pointed to two possible departures: Soulé towards Borussia Dortmund and, indeed, Koné to Arsenal, with «the agents involved» in the operations.

There have been brakes, too. Pagine Romaniste relayed Moretto's denial «of the rumours about Koné to Arsenal», a sign of a story told differently by the various sources and not yet closed.

The most recent news, however, points back towards England. In the last few hours LaRoma24.it spoke of an «opening from Koné to Arsenal», with «Tottenham also on the Frenchman», while Forzaroma.info adds that the midfielder «is waiting for the Premier»: Arsenal remain the «preferred destination», but there are «enquiries from Chelsea and Tottenham».

As it stands, the picture is one of a broad agreement with the player and an asking price set by Roma. What is missing is the final deal between the clubs over the 50-million valuation; in the background, the arrival of Tottenham and Chelsea could change the balance of the race for the Frenchman.

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